Abdominal scultetus



De@ so, 1969 'w R. gmcK'soN mL 3,436,501

ABDOMNAL SCULTETUS Filed spt.` 15, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jkt/M6026 M507@5.

w. R. ERICKSON ETAL Dec. 3o, 1969 ABDOMINAL SCULTETUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Sept. l5, 1967 MMQL] United States Patent 3,486,501 ABDOMINALSCULTETUS Wallace R. Erickson, Kenosha, Wis., and John G. Whitcomb,Albuquerque, N. `"Mex., assignors to Coopers Incorporated, Kenosha,Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Y.

Filed Sept. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 668,156 Int. Cl. A61f 5/24, 5/40 U.S. Cl.12S-96 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A postoperative abdominalscultetus for patients who have experienced abdominal surgery. Thedevice includes a back panel of elastic fabric; a seat panel of fabricaffixed at its upper edge to the lower edge of the back panel; a firstfront panel of substantially inextensible fabric affixed at its outerside edge `to a second side edge of said back panel; a crotch panel offabric affixed at its lower edge to the lower edge of the seat panel,the crotch panel and the seat panel being cooperatively shaped toprovide a pair of leg openings; hook and pile type fastening means fordetachably and adjustably securing the first and second front panels inoverlapping relationship so as to define a tubular upper portionA forthe scultetus to adjustably encircle and embrace the torso of thepatient; and hook and pile type fastening means for detachably andadjustably securing the top portion of the crotch panel to the front ofthe tubular upper portion.

This invention relates to a postoperative abdominal scultetus forpatients who have experienced abdominal surgery.

Following an abdominal operation, it is conventional practice to apply adressing to the abdominal incision and to wrap a binder about the torsoof the patient to secure the dressing in place. A number ofdisadvantages, however, attend this approach. For example, the wrappingof the binder itself is a rather cumbersome procedure and does notenable sufficiently selective adjustment of pressure upon the dressingand abdominal region of the patient compatibly with the shape andsensitivities of the patient. Moreover, access to the operative areanormally requires that the binder be substantially unwound which, ofcourse, is difiicult if there is more than one wrap and the patient isin bed. There is also frequently a tendency for the binder to ride up onthe patient out of its intended position. 'It is a primary object of thepresent invention to overcome these and other difficulties encounteredin conventional practice.

Briefiy described, the postoperative abdominal scultetus of the presentinvention includes a tubular upper portion comprising a back panel ofelastic webbing, a first front panel of substantially inextensible wovenmaterial afxed at its outer edge to one side edge of the back panel, asecond front panel of substantially inextensible woven material, and aplurality of hook and pile type fastening strips for detachably andadjustably securing the first and second front panels in overlappingrelationship so as to encircle and embrace the torso of the patient. Theabdominal scultetus further includes a lower portion which comprises aseat panel of absorbent bi-knit fabric affixed at its upper edge to thelower edge of the back panel, a crotch panel also of absorbent bi-knitfabric affixed at its lower edge to the lower edge of said seat paneland cooperative with the seat panel to provide a pair of leg openings,and hook and pile type fastening strips for detachably and adjustablysecuring the top portion of the crotch panel to the front of the uppertubular portion so as to cover the crotch at buttock ICC regions of thepatient and prevent the upper tubular portion from riding up on thepatient out of its intended position.

It is an object of the configuration and structure of the presentinvention to provide several salient features and advantages. The woveninextensible front panels coact with the adjustable strips and theelastic back panel to supplement tape to hold the surgical dressing inplace and to provide firm support for the abdominal region of thewearer. The plurality of adjustable strips enables stepless selection ofthe pressure to be applied at particular areas of the abdomen to securethe dressing in place and to allow for the shape and sensitivities ofthe patient. Adjustment can readily be made if appropriate toaccommodate swelling and shrinking of the abdomen caused by gaseousconditions common to patients who have experienced abdominal surgery.The elastic back panel exerts continuous tension on the front panels yetprovides flexibility needed for normal body movements. The configurationof the abdominal scultetus thus provides the necessary versatile supportand control of the abdomen required during the critical postoperativeperiod to prevent the discomfort of outward pressure on the sensitivearea and further prevent the possibility of this outward pressure frombursting the sutures and concomitantly relieve the common psychologicalanxieties of the patient concerning these problems. Yet, theconfiguration of the scultetus and the detachable adjustable stripsprovide the necessary access to the operative area without discomfort tothe patient.

It is also important to note that the lower bi-knt cotton crotch andseat panels forming the lower portion of the scultetus provide comfortfeatures of softness and absorption and coact with the associatedfastening strips affixed to the top of the crotch portion to adjustablyposition and prevent the tubular upper portion from riding up out ofposition on the patient. Moreover, the bi-knit lower portion and theconstruction of the garment provide suspensory support for male patientsand further provide coverage for both male and female patients with theunique fastening system conveniently permitting the performance of bodyfunctions during the postoperative period.

These and other features and objects of the present invention will bebetter understood by reference to the following detailed description inconjunction with the appended drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the abdominal scultetus of the presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the abdominal scultetus of thepresent invention in fully opened condition.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view similar to FIG- URE 2 but with oneof the front panels folded over.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view similar to FIG- URE 2 but with bothof the front panels folded over and secured together.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the abdominal scultetus of thepresent invention with all fastening strips secured.

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view of the abdominal scultetus of thepresent invention.

Referring generally to all of the FIGURES 1 through 6, it should benoted that like reference numbers denote like parts in each of theviews. v

In the description and claims, the terms upper, lower, transverse, andlongitudinal will be found. Since various panels of the garment occupydifferent orientations depending upon whether the scultetus is opened orclosed, these terms find their point of reference in the 3 orientationof the various panels when the scultetus is completely closed and lyingilat as in FIGURE 5. Thus, transverse refers to the directionstransversely of the scultetus as from left to right in FIGURE 5, andlongitudinal refers to the directions along the vertical length of thescultetus, as from top to bottom in FIGURE 5. The terms upper and lowerare similarly related t the orientation of the scultetus as shown inFIGURE 5.

Considering now the details of structure, the scultetus may becharacterized as having an upper portion 11 and a lower portion 12, therespective portions being indicated genenally by the brackets in FIGURE5.

The upper portion 11 comprises a generally rectangular back panel 13intermediate a pair of front panels 14 and as best illustrated in FIGURE2. The back panel 13 is a wide yband of one-way stretch elastic webbing,that is, the back panel 13 has an elastic stretch characteristictransversely of the scultetus and a non-stretch characteristiclongitudinally of the scultetus. It is preferably approximately eightinches in extent from its upper edge to its lower edge.

The front panel 14 is affixed at its side edge to the adjacent side edgeof the back panel 13 along a seam 16. The front panel 15 is affixed atits side edge to the .adjacent side edge of the back panel 13 along aseam 17. Both front panels 14 and 15 comprise substantially inextensiblewoven fabric `and are coniigurated along their lower edges to cooperatewith the lower portion 12 of the scultetus to dene a pair of legopenings.

On the exterior surface of the front panel 14, there are afxed fourtransversely-oriented pile fastening strips 18a through 18d adapted toreceive, respectively, four complementary transversely-oriented hookfastening strips 19a through 19d which are compatibly positioned andaffixed to the front panel 1S so as to, in part, freely depend from thefront edge of the front panel for engagement with the pile strips 18athrough 18d. The hook and pile fastening strips 18a through 18d and 19athrough 19d are of the type in which the hook strip and the pile stripforming a complementary pair will adhere to one Ianother when pressedtogether. This type of fastening means is commeercially available asVelcro.

The lower portion 12 of the scultetus includes a seat panel 21 and lacrotch panel 22, both of which preferably comprise bi-knit cotton fabricarranged with its stretch characteristic transversely of the scultetus.Bi-knit fabric consists of two layers of jersey knit fabric knit-simultaneously in tubular form with one tube inside the other andjoined together at predetermined intervals by tuck stitches obtained byemploying both dial and cylinder needles in conjunction. The tuckstitches are illustrated somewhat diagrammatically and identied byreference numeral 23.

The seat panel 21 is affixed at its upper edge to the lower edge of theback panel 13 and portions of the lower edges of the front panels 14 and15 .along a seam 24.

The crotch panel 22 is affixed to the lower edge of the seat panel 21along a seam 25. The crotch panel contains a top portion 26 generallydefined by an .apex 27 and base angle points 28 and 29 and adapted tooverlap the front of the upper portion 11 when the scultetus is fullyclosed as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 5.

An apex hook type fastening strip 31 is aflixed to and freely dependsfrom the apex 27 of the triangular top p0rtion 27 of the `crotch panelfor engagement with a pair of complementary pile type fastening strips32 and 33 which back upon and are affixed to the front panel fasteningstrips 19a and 19b. In addition, a pair of base angle hook typefastening strips 34 `and 35 are aixed to the interior of the crotchpanel 22 adjacent the base angle points 28 and 29 for engagingcomplementary pile type fastening strips 36 and 37 which are compatiblypositioned and .affixed on the front panels 14 and 15, respectively.

To apply the abdominal scultetus to a patient, the back panel 13 ispositioned against the back of the patient,

and the front panel is brought laround and placed on the abdomen ofpatient to position similar to that in FIG- URE 3. The front panel 15 isthen brought around to overlap the front panel 14, and the hook typefastening strips 19a through 19d are pressed against their respectivecomplementary pile type fastening strips 18a through 18d so as to formthe upper portion 11 of the scultetus into the requisite tubularconguration (best shown in FIG' URE l) encircling and embracing thetorso of the wearer. The several hook and pile type fastening stripsenable versatile stepless adjustment of the pressure applied inaccordance with the shape and sensitivities of the patient and arereadily detachable to provide access to the operative area. The elasticback panel exerts continuing tension upon the front panels to provide rmabdominal support and hold the dressing in place yet permits normal bodymovements.

To complete closure of the abdominal scultetus, the top portion 26 ofthe crotch panel is brought into overlapping relationship with the frontof the tubular upper portion 11 and adjustably and detachably securedthereto by engagement of the hook type fastening strips 31, 34, and 35compatibly with the pille type fastening strips 32, 33, 36, and 37. Theside edges of the seat panel 21 and the crotch panel 22 form respectedlycontinuous curvilinear side edges 38 and 39 in the lower body portionwhich provide a pair of leg openings when the scultetus is fully closedas illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 5. The side edges of the seat panel 21are preferably elasticized to assist in maintaining the peripheries ofthe leg openings against the legs of the patient. The lower portion 12of the scultetus provides adjustable means for adjustably positioningand preventing the upper tubular portion of the scultetus from riding upout of position on the patient. The lower portion further providessuspensory support for male patients and coverage for bothmale andfemale patients with a convenient detachability arrangement forperformance of body functions during the postoperative period.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it is to be understood that this is by way ofexample only and not by way of limitation. It is contemplated thatmodifications may be made within the scope of the claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

1. A postoperative abdominal scultetus comprising:

a back panel having a transverse elastic stretch characteristic;

a first front panel of substantially inextensible woven material aflixedat its side edge to one side edge of said back panel;

a second front panel of substantially inextensible woven material afxedat its side edge to the other side edge of said back panel;

means for detachably and adjustably securing said rst and second frontpanels in overlapping relationship so as to define a tubular upperportion for said scultetus to adjustably encircle and embrace the torsoof` the patient with said elastic back panel applying tension on saidfront panels so as to provide rm support for the abdominal region of thepatient and to secure in place an abdominal dressing;

a seat panel of knit material axed at its upper edge to the lower edgeof said back panel;

a crotch panel axed at its lower edge to the lower edge of said seatpanel, said crotch panel and said seat panel being shaped to provide apair of leg openings; and

means for detachably and adjustably securing the top portion of saidcrotch panel to the front of said tubular upper portion of saidscultetus whereby said crotch panel and said seat panel cover the crotchand buttock regions of the patient and adjustably position and preventsaid tubular upper portion of said scultetus from riding up out of itsintended position on the patient.

2. The postoperative abdominal scultetus defined in claim 1 wherein saidcrotch panel and said seat panel each comprises a double layer of jerseyknit fabric tuck-stitched together at predetermined intervals and with astretch characteristic in the transverse direction.

3. The postoperative abdominal scultetus defined in claim 1 wherein saidmeans for detachably and adjustably securing said first and secondpanels to one another cornprises a plurality of transversely-oriented,individually adjustable pairs of complementary hook and pile stripswhich adhere to one another when pressed together, one strip of eachpair being affixed to the first front panel and the other complementarystrip of each pair being affixed to the second front panel.

4. The postoperative abdominal scultetus defined in claim 1 wherein saidmeans for detachably and adjustably securing the top portion of saidcrotch panel to the front of said tubular upper portion of saidscultetus comprises a plurality of complementary hook and pile stripswhich adhere to one another when pressed together, strips affixed to thefront of said tubular upper garment being with complementary stripsaffixed to the upper portion of said crotch panel.

5. The postoperative abdominal scultetus defined in claim 4 wherein saidtop portion of said crotch panel has a substantially triangularconfiguration and wherein said strips aiixed thereto include an apexstrip affixed to and longitudinally depending from the apex of saidtriangular configuration and a base angle strip affixed to saidtriangular configuration in proximity of each of the base angles of saidtriangular configuration, said complementary strips afiixed to saidtubular upper portion being compatibly positioned to adjustably receivesaid apex strip and said base angle strips.

6. A postoperative abdominal scultetus comprising:

a back panel of elastic fabric;

a seat panel of fabric afiixed at its upper edge to the lower edge ofsaid back panel;

a first front panel of substantially inextensible fabric afiixed at itsside edge to one side edge of said back panel;

a second front panel of substantially inextensible fabric affixed at itsside edge to a second side edge of said back panel;

a crotch panelvk of fabric affixed at its lower edge to the lower edgeof said seat panel, said crotch panel and said seat panel beingcooperatively -Shaped to provide a pair of leg openings;

means for detachably and adjustably securing said first and second frontpanels in overlapping relationship so as to define a tubular upperportion for said scultetus to adjustably encircle and embrace the torsoof the patient; and

means for detachably securing the top portion of said crotch panel tothe front of said tubular upper portion of said scultetus.

teristic transversely of said scultetus and substantial inextensibilitylongitudinally of said scultetus;

first front panel of substantially inextensible 4woven material affixedat its side edge to one side edge of said upper back panel;

second front panel of substantially inextensible woven material affixedat its side edge to the other side edge of said upper back panel;

first plurality of transversely-oriented, individually adjustable pairsof complementary hooks and pile strips which adhere to one another Whenpressed together, one strip of each pair being afiixed to said firstfront panel so as to depend in part from the front edge thereof, theother complementary strip of each pair 4being affixed to said -secondfront panel and compatibly positioned to adjustably receive thedepending portions of said strips afiixed to said first front panel suchthat said first and second front panels are detachably and adjustablysecurable in overlapping relationship so as to define a tubular upperportion for said scultetus to adjustably encircle and embrace the torsoof the patient with said elastic back panel applying tension on saidfront panels so as to provide firm support for the abdominal region ofthe patient and to secure in place an abdominal dressing;

lower back panel of bi-knit cotton material affixed at its upper edge tothe lower edge of said upper back panel;

crotch panel of bi-knit cotton material affixed at its lower edge to thelower edge of said lower -back panel, said crotch panel and said lowerback panel having curvilinear edge portions shaped to provide a pair ofleg openings, and said crotch portion having a top portion ofsubstantially triangular configuration adapted to overlap said tubularupper portion; and

second plurality of complementary hook and pile strips, an apex stripaixed to and longitudinally depending from the apex of said triangularconfiguration and a base strip affixed to said triangular portion inproximity of each of the base angles of said triangular configuration,at least one strip complementary with `said apex strip back upon andaffixed to one of said first plurality of strips which depends in partfrom said first front panel for detachably and adjustably receiving saidapex strip, strips complementary with said base angle strips affixed toand compatibly positioned and said first and second front panels todetachably and adjustably receive said base angle strips, whereby saidcrotch panel Iand said lower back panel cover the crotch and buttockregions of the patient and adjustably position and prevent said tubularupper portion of said scultetus from -working away from its intendedposition on the patient.

7. A postoperative abdominal scultetus comprising:

a generally rectangular upper portionincluding an intermediate panelhaving a one-Way elastic stretch characteristic oriented transversely ofsaid scultetus and means for detachably and adjustably securing one endof said generally rectangular upper portion to the opposite end suchthat said generally rectangular upper portion adjustably encircles andembraces the torso of the patient; and

a lower portion for covering the crotch and buttock regions of thepatient affixed at one end to said generally rectangular upper portionand including means for detachably and adjustably securing the oppositeend of lower portion to said generally rectangular upper portion, saidlower body portion being shaped to provide a pair of leg openings.

8. A postoperative adbominal scultetus comprising:

an upper back panel having an elastic stretch charac- 9. Thepostoperative abdominal scultetus defined in claim 8 wherein saidcurvilinear edge portions of said lower back panel have an elasticstretch characteristic.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,206,525 ll/l9l6 Force 128-1582,431,571 11/1947 Lehr 2-238 3,029,814 4/1962 Kravitz 128--159 3,194,2347/ 1965 Duckman et al 128-95 3,207,155 9/1965 Casey 128-159 3,142,300 7/1964 Erteszek 12S-524 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

'2272330 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 3,l86,50l Dated December 30, 1969 Inventor(s) WALLACE R, ERICKSONand JOHN G. WHITCOMIB It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

l Column 3, lines Ml and 1&2, "commeercially" should read"commercially". Column il, line 25, "respectedly" should readrespectively". 'Column 1I, after line im, add --In the claims:. Column5, claim 7, should read:

--A postoperative abdominal scultetus comprising:

a tubular upper portion including a back panel, a pair of front panelseach affixed to an adjacent side edge of said back panel, a plurality oftransversely-oriented, individually adJustable pairs of complementaryhook and pile type strips which adhere to one another when pressedtogether, one strip of eachpair being affixed to one front panel and theother l `complementary strip of each pair being affixed to the otherfront panel;

a lower body portion for covering the crotch and buttock regions of thepatient and for preventing said tubular upper portion from riding up onthe' patient, said lower body portion being shaped to provide a pair oflleg openings and affixed at its backV end to the lower back edge of saidtubular upper portion and including at least one strip of the hook andpile type affixed to the front end of said lower body portion; and

4at least one strip affixed to the front of said tubular upper portionof the hook and pile type and complementary with said strip affixed tothe front end of said lower body portion for receiving said strip suchthat said front end is detachably and adustably securable to the frontof said tubular upper portion."

Column 6, line #14, fgraim 8, "back" should read "backed".

SIGNED 'ND SEALED l Alb 1 im l.

Smm .Anus

` mm lo me me Edwnrdllm commissioner of kunt! mening Offleex'4

